The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-11-03
THE UNIONS NEW ERA.
The Grand Spirit of Nationality Devel-
oPed by the Democrattc Party.

Inc Orand Spirit of Nationality Devel-
oped by the Democratic Party.
A new era has dawned in American
politics. . 1t began with the Inaugural
tion of Grover Cleveland, and can only
be carried out to its fullest consumma-
ton by the continued ascendancy of
the Democratic party.
The Republicans, in a blind spirit
that seems to be almost fatalistic,
tenaciously cling to their old idols, and
tho new issues that are pressing for So
luton are persistently ignored Like
an old man in his dotage, this party
somn olently dwells in the past. pitiful-
ly discussing themes that have long
since passed out of the vital concerns
of the world. The war of the rebellion
is now gigantic memory; but with
them it seems to be present reality.
They go on reaffirming the principles
that were long since settled by the
war as if they were vital issues before
the country at the present day. They
talk of Confederates and rebels as if
the country was to-day in the midst of
an armed civil insurrection. They
point with PRIDE to their past. and
go before the country on a platform
of principles which have long since
been settled and inscribed on the pages
of history as accomplished realities.
The great Indictment the country
makes against the Republican party is
that it fails to put itself in harmony
with the forward movements of the
age. 1t fails to recognize the powerful
spirit of nationality that has grown up
in these States since the war. For the
first eighty years of our existence
we were little better than two separate
and antagonistic nations trying to eX-
ist under one constitution. There was
a steadily extending spirit of disunion
that perpetually threatened the stabil-
ity of the Republic. There was no
true feeling of nationality. We were
not firmly-established Republic, but
an experiment which the nations of
the earth expected to go to pieces, and
be numbered with the other unsuccess-
full republics of the past. The war put
an end to the experimental era, de-
stroyed sectionalism, and above its
battle smoke lowered for the first time
the genius of an indestructible Amer
lean nationality.
The newly-born spirit of nationality,
which promises so much for the great
ness of our future, the Republican par
ty seems bent upon destroying. This
is very serious charge, but the facts
in the case bear it out. Its leaders are
constantly endeavoring to revive the
bitter feelings growing out of the war,
and to resurrect the dead hates that
reunited nation has decreed shall be
buried forever. 1t seeks by all the
arts of demagoglc rhetoric to keep
alive the antagonisms that divided the
sections of this country for a period
of eighty years. 1t would suppress the
new and hopeful feeling o. American
nationality, and replace it with the old
and dreadful hates of sectionalism,
which kept this country mere COM
paw VI uiSSOluduO uhIl
States through the long experimental
period of its history. To discourage
or in any way thwart this growing
tendency of nationality is a crime not
far remote from treason. The Repub-
lican party can not escape the indict-
ment of being guilty of this crime.
The Democratic party, on the other
hand, is pledged to this new epoch
making idea of universal American ma
tionality. 1t sees that new impetus
and vitalization has been given to the
country by this lately-grown concep-
ton, and that it marks new era
in our history. The Republican party,
by its narrow and hate breeding sec
tionalism, is fighting against the course
of inevitable progress. 1t is in direct
hostility to the ruling spirit of the age.
1t might as well fight against the stars
in their courses. Boston Globe.